Electronically controlled shedding mechanism

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for selectively raising selected threads in the warp of a weaving machine to form a shed includes a plurality of vertically movable rods which raise the selected threads and which are electronically controlled by a rod control apparatus. The rod control apparatus may be in the form of a solenoid or an electrical coil combined with an electrically neutral seat member. The mechanism is part of a block structure which rises and falls. When the block structure rises each rod either moves up with the block to raise a thread or the rod remains stationary, depending on the status of rod control apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mechanism having a plurality ofelectronically controlled rods for selectively raising selected threadsin a warp of a weaving machine to form a shed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of Jacquard-type machines and the like, designed to form a shedin flat weaver's looms, is wide-spread. However, these traditionalsystems have developed very little throughout the years, and still todayemploy practically the same features of their first models introduced inFrance two hundred years ago.

Such traditional devices, besides being rather bulky, operate onplatforms mounted above the looms, requiring costly installations fortheir aerial support, and operate through complex sets of needles,cards, tie rods, etc., resulting in an extremely elaborate structurewhich demands expensive maintenance.

In general all of these pieces of equipment, which operate by pullingthe tie rods carrying the warp threads upwards, are regarded asconventional and have caused the conceptual stagnation of the technicaldevices which have been used thus far.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new solution, completely different fromthe traditional systems, since, according to the invention, the warpthreads are taken upwards in a totally different manner--they are pushedupwards by a specific functional unit which may even stand on the floor,with all the advantages of an easy installation offered by thisimportant innovation.

The attached schematic drawings (FIGS. 1 through 21) illustrate, in asimplified manner, the present invention, which consists of severalfunctional units, working independently, arranged sequentially andmounted inside a fixed body C placed between the warp beam R and thecomb P of the loom (not depicted), the units consisting of a verticallyoriented rod 1 provided with a ring 2 in its center and, above thisring, a coaxial extension 3; a conventional electrical solenoid 4 with ahorizontally movable shaft 5 having an opening 6 for the passage of therod 1; a metallic sheet 7 for electrical contact and for fastening thesolenoid 4 in relation to the rod 1; an intermediate vertically orientedslot 8 for guiding the portion of the rod 1 located above the solenoid 4and coaxial to the opening 6; a lower vertically oriented slot 9 forguiding the portion of the rod 1 located below the solenoid 4 andcoaxial to the opening 6; an upper vertically oriented slot 10 forguiding the extension 3 of the rod 1 and coaxial to the opening 6; ablock 11, which can be moved up and down where the removable solenoid 4is fastened and where a metallic sheet 7 and the upper, lower andintermediate slots are provided. The block also contains a wall (12) onits top, for closing the upper part of the upper slot (10); a movableplate 13 for driving the shaft 5 towards the opening 6 of the solenoid4; a rigid shield 14 with an opening 15 for the passage of the rod 1coaxial to upper, lower and intermediate slots, said shield beingmounted below the ring 2, and the opening 15 being provided with a rim16 for the protection and support of said ring 2.

The equipment is of simple operation due to its special structure whichlifts and lowers the warp thread, passing it through the ring 2, as itcan be seen in the enclosed illustrations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine housing the mechanism of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2-6 are partial elevations, partially in cross-section, of thelift rod and the lift rod controlling solenoid of the present inventiondepicting the mechanism in different stages of operation;

FIG. 7 illustrates a plurality of lift units according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a side view taken along the line Y--Y in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a solenoid employed in the mechanism ofthe present invention; and

FIGS. 10-21 illustrate the present invention according to an alternateembodiment thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fixed body C housing the equipmentof this invention which, as previously mentioned, can stand on thefloor, dispensing with the costly equipment for aerial support requiredby traditional systems.

In its essence, the elements of the invention operate in mutualcoordination, basically driven by the action of the shaft 5 of thesolenoid 4, which in two successive positions either blocks (FIGS. 2, 3,4) or unblocks (FIGS. 5, 6) the passage of the rod 1 through its opening6.

The warp thread F passes through the ring 2, and is lifted by therespective rod 1.

In the blocking position, while the block 11 is stopped in the loweredposition, the rod 1 remains inactive, the ring 2 resting on the shield14. At all times in this stage and rod 1 remains housed inside the upperintermediate slots 10 and 8, with its lower end 17 in contact with theshaft 5 of the solenoid 4. In this stage, the plate 13 presses againstsaid shaft 5, thus blocking the opening 6 (FIG. 2). As this plate can bemoved by any adequate means, whether electrical or mechanical, thisfeature does not constitute a particular feature of this invention.

In order to drive the rod 1 upwards, plate 13 has to be moved backwardsthus releasing the shaft 5, which, due to its own inertia, stillcontinues blocking said opening 6 (FIG. 3).

The rod 1 starts becoming slightly lifted when the block 11, dulyprovided with the solenoid 4, metallic sheet 7 and the intermediate,lower, and upper slots 8, 9 and 10, moves upwards.

According to this invention, the solenoid 4, the metallic sheet 7 andthe intermediate, lower, and upper slots 8, 9 and 10 are all linked toblock 11 which can be moved vertically up and down by the usualmechanical means such as, for instance, a cam E (illustrated in FIG. 1in a simplified manner).

As the block 11 moves upwards, the shaft 5 of the solenoid 4 pushes upthe rod 1 so that the latter takes the warp thread F along, passing itthrough ring 2, thus completing the first operation stage of theinvention (FIG. 4).

The rod 1 is brought back to its starting position when the block 11 ispulled down by its superior wall, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The complete invention consists, as previously mentioned, of a variablenumber of operational units like the ones described above, duly arrangedand assembled inside the block 11.

As mentioned before, each one of the units is autonomous, actingindividually and independently inside the equipment.

Therefore, the invention allows for the selection of the rods which areto be slightly lifted, according to the effect desired in the resultingfabric.

In order to select the rods, you only have to start the solenoid youwant, thus causing, as described above, the lifting of the respectiverod.

Based on the fact that when the block 11 moves upwards it brings alongall units forming the set, this invention presupposes theimmobilization, in the lowered position, of the rods which are to bekept in this position.

You just have to turn on the electrical circuit of the selected solenoidand this will make the shaft 5 move towards the plate 13, thusunblocking the passage of the opening 6. The respective rod 1 remainsinactive, supported by the ring 2 on the shield 14 (FIG. 5). When theblock 11 moves upwards, this rod will not be pushed, since it passesfreely through the opening 6 of the solenoid 4 (released by the retreat(setback) of the shaft 5) and starts to occupy the inside of lower slot9 coaxially placed below the solenoid (FIG. 6).

Upon the return of block 11 to its starting position, the unit returnsto the situation illustrated in FIG. 5. As a consequence, rod 1 unblocksthe return of the shaft 5, which resumes the position illustrated inFIG. 2 as soon as it is pushed by the plate 13.

FIG. 7 illustrates as an example a multiple combination of the unitsaggregated to the block 11 and properly arranged according to severaldifferent practical needs. For a better understanding, only two unitsare schematically illustrated, one (corresponding to FIG. 4) in whichthe rod 1' is raised, slightly raising the warp thread F', and the other(corresponding to FIG. 6) in which the rod 1" is at rest, keeping thewarp thread F" in the lowered position. The relative positions of thesetwo rods illustrate the shed thus formed establishing between them a gapV through which the weft M passes at each operative cycle of theinvention.

FIG. 8 is a side view taken from the line Y--Y of drawing 7,illustrating the unmatched positions of the solenoids 4 in the equipmentconsidered in different planes so that the rod 1 may operate solely inrelation to its respective solenoid, without interfering with any othersolenoid in the set.

Finally, FIG. 9 is a supplementary view, in perspective, of the solenoid4, conventionally started by an electrical circuit but characterized bythe fact that it is installed transversely to said vertical opening 6for the passage of the rod 1. As usual, the solenoid includes anintermediary beam I, where the coil N (represented by the broken line)is located, the respective electrical circuit being established throughthe contact of the latter with the power supply T, on one side, and withthe metallic sheet 7 of the operational unit object of the invention, onthe other side.

The general reset of the invention, aiming at the complete restart ofthe operational cycle, is preceded, at all times, by the return of plate13 to its original position, pressing the shaft 5, thus blocking theopening 6 of the solenoid, as represented in FIG. 2.

Alternatively, the function of the solenoid (4) can be performed by adevice consisting of an electrical coil and an electrically neutral seatmember with an axial opening for the passage of the horizontal shaft.The seat member is, likewise, provided with a vertical opening for thepassage of said rod.

The remaining drawings (FIGS. 10 through 21) illustrate this alternativewhich can be described as follows: a vertical rod 1, with a lower end17, the rod being provided with a ring 2 in its upper part for thepassage of the warp thread F and, above this, a coaxial extension 3; anelectrical coil 18 fastened to a metallic plate 13, which can be movedto the sides, electrically connected with said coil 18; a seat 19,electrically neutral, with an axial opening 20 for the horizontallymovable shaft 5 to slide through. The seat is placed transversely andhas a vertical opening 6 for the passage of the rod 1; an intermediatevertical slot 8 for guiding the portion of the rod 1 above the seat 19and coaxial to the opening 6; a lower vertical slot 9 for guiding theportion of the rod 1 below the seat 19 and coaxial to the opening 6; ablock 11, which can be moved up and down where the removable seat 19 isfastened and where slots 8 and 9 are provided. The block is also providewith a wall 12 on its top for closing its upper part; a fixed shield 14with an opening 15 for the passage of the rod 1, coaxial to slots 8 and9, the shield being mounted below the ring 2 and the opening 15 beingprovided with a border 16 for the protection and support of the ring 2.

The arrangement of this alternative permits, through the interaction ofthe movements of the shaft 5 and of the block 11 of each of itsfunctional units, the selection of rods 1 which are to be moved upwardsor downwards at each cycle of the equipment according to the effectdesired in the resulting fabric. In this system you can choose whetheror not the rod 1 will be moved upwards or downwards in coordination withthe block 11, with the resulting movement of the warp thread F carriedby each of the rods forming the entire functional unit at issue.

The text below describes a functional unit based on the presentalternative in its successive stages of lifting and lowering the block11, optionally bringing along the rod 1 in the same movement. Alldrawings together repeat basically the illustrations contained in FIGS.2 to 9, this time showing the functional unit equipped with the coil 18and the seat 19 with a vertical opening 6 and its peripheral functionalelements: a metallic plate 13 (attached to the coil 18 and makingelectrical contact with the same through the connection L) and ahorizontally movable shaft 5 (aggregated to said seat 19). As it can beobserved from the figures, the coil 18 is connected, through one of itspoles T, with the circuit in order to close the current. It can also beobserved that, according to the present alternative, the followingelements were eliminated: the metallic plate (for the support andelectrical contact of the solenoid (also eliminated)) and the slotlocated in the upper part of the block 11 for housing the extension 3 ofthe rod 1 (with experience, the housing proved to be dispensable).Furthermore, the plate 13, once electrically neutral, is now, accordingto the present alternative, electrically active so as to allow theenergization of the coil 18.

So, in its operation and according to this device, in order to lift therod 1, the metallic sheet, starts at rest (FIG. 10), is moved by anyadequate means against the seat 19, in coordination with the block 11,causing the coil 18 (not energized and coaxial in relation to the shaft5) to push said shaft into the seat 19, blocking the opening 6 of saidseat (FIG. 11). Subsequently the coil 18 (not energized backs off to itsprevious position, at rest (FIG. 12), causing the block 11 to startmoving upwards, bringing along the rod 1 supported by its lower end 17in the shaft 5 (FIG. 13). Upon its return to the lower position, theblock 11 brings along the rod 1 (caught between the superior wall 12 ofthe block 11 and the shaft 5), thus the set returns to the position inFIG. 10 for restarting the lifting cycle of said block bringing alongthe rod 1.

On the other hand, when the rod 1 is to be kept immobilized, simplysupported by its ring 2 on the fixed shield 14, while the block 11 movesup and down, according to the invention you only have to bring the coil18 from the starting position illustrated in FIG. 14 closer to the shaft5 (FIG. 15) and then said coil will be electrically energized. Onceenergized and returning to its starting point, said coil pullsmagnetically the shaft 5 partially outside the seat 19, thus unblockingsaid opening 6 (FIGS. 16 and 17).

As block 11 moves upwards, the rod 1, released from the shaft 5, remainsimmobilized, at rest, supported by its ring 2 in the fixed shield 14,freely sliding throughout the slots 8 and 9 of said block and of theopening 6 of the seat 19 (FIG. 9). The same occurs when the blockreturns to its lower position (FIG. 5) for restarting the lifting cycleof said block.

As one can observe, the device permits, through the movement of theplate 13 by any adequate means, and through the energization (or not) ofthe coil 18, the selection of the rods 1 which are to be lifted togetherwith the block 11 at each movement of the block according to the effectdesired in the resulting fabric, because each rod determines themovement of the warp thread F passing through its ring 2. FIG. 19illustrates schematically the various rods (1', 1") which will or willnot join in the upwards movement of block 11, at each movement of theset.

Finally, FIGS. 20 and 21 are separate perspective views of coil 18,electrically connected to the metallic plate 13 by the wiring L and tothe closing of the circuit through the wiring T, and of the seat 19 withan axial opening 20 and a vertical opening 6, said seat being intendedfor housing and sliding of the horizontally movable shaft 5.

I claim:
 1. Electromagnetic shedding unit for a loom adapted to belocated between the comb and the warp beam in the loom, said unitcomprising:a block adapted to be moved vertically upwards; a verticalrod provided with a ring located along the length of said rod, a part ofthe rod located above the ring forming an upper coaxial extension and apart of the rod located below the ring forming a lower coaxialextension; an electrical solenoid fastened to said block and having ahorizontally movable horizontal shaft extending therethrough, saidsolenoid having a vertical opening formed therein for the passage of thelower coaxial extension of said vertical rod therethrough; a metallicsheet attached to said block and providing an electrical contact andcoupling said solenoid with said vertical rod, said block definingupper, lower, and intermediate vertical slots coaxially with saidvertical opening of said solenoid, the upper vertical slot guiding theupper coaxial extension and the lower and intermediate slots guiding thelower coaxial extension, said block having a wall on an upper partthereof which closes off a top end of said upper vertical slot; amoveable plate for driving said horizontal shaft toward said verticalopening of said solenoid; and a rigid shield having an opening coaxialwith said upper, lower and intermediate vertical slots for passage ofsaid vertical rod therethrough, said shield being disposed below saidring and said opening of said shield having a rim for support of saidring.
 2. Electromagnetic shedding unit for a loom adapted to be locatedbetween the comb and the warp beam in the loom, said unit comprising:ablock adapted to be moved vertically upwards; a vertical rod providedwith a ring located along the length of said rod, a part of the rodlocated above the ring forming an upper coaxial extension and a part ofthe rod located below the ring forming a lower coaxial extension; anelectrical coil; an electrically neutral seat member fastened to saidblock and having a movable horizontal shaft extending therethrough, saidseat member having a vertical opening formed therein for the passage ofthe lower coaxial extension of said vertical rod therethrough; saidblock defining lower and upper vertical slots coaxially with saidvertical opening of said seat member for guiding the lower coaxialextension; a horizontally moveable metallic plate with said electricalcoil electrically connected thereto for driving said horizontal shafttoward said vertical opening of said seat member; and a rigid shieldhaving an opening coaxial with said lower and intermediate verticalslots for passage of said vertical rod therethrough, said shield beingdisposed below said ring and said opening of said shield having a rimfor support of said ring.